The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-05-13

under cover of the SECRETARY STANTON. .
darkness, had swiftly and silently withdrawn
his force from the battle field of Cross Keys
and joined jackson. The dawn Of the 9th
found the Confederate army united and ready
for battle opposite Port Republic
jackson thought quickly and acted almost
as rapidly. He determined to hurry across
the river, burn the bridge behind him, so
Fremont could not cross, then attack Shields
and have it out with him. This was similar
| to Jackson's tactics throughout the cam
paign.
The plan was executed as designed.
Col. Tyler led Shields advance. He had
| only 5000 men, however, to throw against
Jackson's whole army. The "Stonewall brig
ade" met them first, flying beneath the Con-
federate the blue flag of Virginia. The brig
age was commanded by Gen. Winder, and
Jackson himself was with it.
They opened lively fire, but Col. Tyler's
heavy artillery was too much for even the
Stonewall brigade. Winder was forced back
Col. Tyler's mon speedily occupied the ground
it had left. The Federal left held wooded
height, and from that point deadly artillery
fire poured. Jackson ordered the Louisiana
troops under Gen. Taylor to take it. Taylor
pointed to the guns with his sword and called
W Lbs uIcu. AOulSldlllduS, Cttil yOu ttIkc Uudt
battery?" With shout and cheer they
charged over the rough ground and up
through the woods. It was desperate and
bloody charge, and it was successful The
Federal guns were captured and turned upon
those who had lately manned them. Taylor
was in turn forced back with his Confeder-
ates But Winder had rallied his men again.
He poured tremendous artillery fire.into
tho EoJoro1 fropf nd 1oft onA ,,~,Ios ~ tho
Union troops began to waver. The wavering
became retreat. The artillery horses had
been killed and all Tyler's guns but one had
to be left on the field.
The battle of Port Republic was ended, and
Shields had been defeated.
Just as the Federal retreat began Fremont
appeared with his army on the opposite bank
of the river. But it was too late. The bridge
had been destroyed.
After the battle Of Port Republic, June 9,
Jackson escaped up the valley. He dis
patched to Leo that day:
Through Gods blessing the enemy was this day
routed with the loss of six pieces of his artillery.
T. j. JACKSON,
Major General Commanding.
at Richmond.
al eI 1OIU hSpuOllC VlcIllOHO duu NulolOS
fingered in the valley while. The four
principal battles of the Shenandoah valley
campaign were Winchester otherwise Kerns-
town, Mcdowell, Cross Keys and Port Re-
public.
The campaign of the Shenandoah valley Of
1862 began March II with Jackson's move
ment from Winchester to Staunton. 1t end
ed June with the battle of Port Republic.
1t had paralyzed all the Union movements
before Richmond. The breach which had al
ready been widening between Gen. Mcclellan
and Secretary of War Stanton was by this
made irreparable. When Mellow
ellis men were ordered to the Shenandoah
after having been solemnly promised to Nc
Clellan, the latter gave over hope of ever
getting from Washington the re-enforcements
he needed, though he still continued to ask
for them. As to what the campaign directly
effected, Cooke, in his life of jackson, says:
SIN three months jackson had marched
600 miles, fought four pitched battles, seven
minor engagements and daily skirmishes; had
defeated four armies, captured 1000 prison.
ers, seven pieces Of artillery, 10000 stand Of
arms and very great amount of stores, in
flcting OH his adversary known loss of 9, 900
men, with a loss on his own part compar-
atively small"
How it was possible for him to thus make
successful raid down the whole length of the
Shenandoah valley and back again, with
armies on three sides of him, containing alto
,ether more than three times as many men as
lis own, is one of the mysteries of war that
las never been solved. 1t was all dash. a
weep, a blow, and then up and away again:
Rein up your hot horses and call in your men,
The trumpet sounds Rally to colors again."
'ome saddles are empty, some comrades are
slain,
md some noble horses lie stark on the plain.
hut wars chance game, boys, and weeping q
vain.